Posted on 10/07/2001 8:53:41 AM PDT by aculeus
THE US ambassador, Richard Egan, is conducting an urgent review of American policy towards Irish republicanism, the Sunday Independent has learned exclusively.
This comes as sources in the North have indicated that they believe for the first time the IRA is close to moving on decommissioning.
Meanwhile, at least 4,000 marchers brought Dublin city-centre traffic to a standstill yesterday in one of the biggest republican marches in years, held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the hunger strikes.
Ambassador Egan's review helps explain what appeared to be an extraordinary decision on his part to make an official visit to Sinn Féin's Ard-Fheis last weekend in the wake of the US atrocities and evidence of Provisional links to Colombian terrorists.
It is understood his review will include recommendations on whether Sinn Féin/ IRA should be allowed to continue to raise funds in America and whether republicans such as Gerry Adams should continue to get US visas without arms decommissioning.
Last weekend's Sinn Féin Ard-Fheis heard motions condemning globalisation and US activities in Colombia. There were calls for the lifting of the American embargo on Cuba, backing for Puerto Rican "freedom" from the US, support for Basque separatists and the PLO, and condemnation of Israel.
In reporting to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Mr Egan is likely to have much to say on Sinn Féin's world-view and on Gerry Adams who, while condemning terrorism as "ethically indefensible", refused to list IRA decommissioning among his priorities.
Meanwhile the Sunday Independent has learned that the IRA may be poised to make a dramatic move to decommission weapons within weeks, according to well-placed political and security sources. Informed sources say that while there has been no change in the make-up of the ruling seven-man Army Council since the terrorist attacks in New York, there has been a significant shift in emphasis towards politics within the council.
"Key people supportive of Gerry Adams within the IRA [see it as their task] to convince the Army Council and other senior IRA figures that there is now a 'window of opportunity' to move on, and it has to be taken," one informed source said.
Unbelievable.
Of course it was Clintoon who first allowed Gerry into the White House, in the face of the strongest British opposition. Thus, Bill Clinton indirectly put millions into IRA coffers and no doubt even more directly into his own Cayman accounts.
Meanwhile, very interesting that the IRA is now purring softly ... even as Tony Blair is on the barricades against terror. Very interesting, indeed.
But a necessary one. We can't very well blather on about stamping out terrorism and then ignore the ones targeting our best ally.
Previous related thread: Gerry Adams denounces 'indefensible' terrorism
Look at us begging a bunch of terrorists. We're so pathetic.
Shortly after Sinn Féin delegates had cheered Gerry Adams's presidential address to the rafters, the newly appointed American ambassador to Ireland, Mr Richard J. Egan, hurried out of the RDS Library.
Rushing into his chauffeur-driven car, he ignored journalists' calls for an interview about Mr Adams' declaration that the IRA could not be compared to Osama bin Laden's attackers.
For Sinn Féin, however, Mr Egan's attendance was a significant diplomatic gesture from the Bush Administration, even if he looked like a man who wished he were somewhere else.
Under the usually rigid protocol rules that govern ambassadors' movements, Mr Egan should have been in Cork for the Labour National Conference, along with the rest of the diplomatic corps.
Before the applause for Mr Adams had died down, he had been ushered into a small room where television crews and photographers were carefully fed through to capture a handshake between him and Mr Adams.
The photograph will, no doubt, feature in the promotional literature of the Friends of Sinn Féin in the United States as they try to raise funds in a dramatically changed atmosphere.
The importance of the United States for Sinn Féin, financially and otherwise, was evident throughout. Again and again, Mr Adams and senior party figures condemned the September 11th atrocities.
Irish Times, October 1, 2001.
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